Vertical seismic profiling velocity estimation method

ABSTRACT

A method includes providing a first velocity model obtained from a VSP survey representative of an upper region of a subterranean formation. Wavefield equations from the first velocity model are datumed to a datum line between the upper region and a target area beneath the upper region to obtain datumed wavefield equations. The method further includes obtaining interferometric common shot data and interferometric common midpoint data from the datumed wavefield equations at the datum line. The first velocity model, the datumed wavefield equations, and the interferometric common midpoint data are then used to generate a second velocity model representative of velocities in the target area.

BACKGROUND

Vertical seismic profiling (VSP) is a seismic tool that can be used to provide high resolution imaging of a region of a subterranean formation, and is typically used to image petroleum reservoirs. VSP imaging differs from surface seismic imaging in that during VSP data collection one of the source or the receiver (typically, the receiver) is placed in a borehole in the formation, rather than having the source and receiver both located at the surface. Commonly, a string of geophones or other sensing devices, which act collectively as the receiver, are placed within a borehole during VSP data acquisition. The source can be located at the surface, or in another borehole (in which case the imaging is known as cross-well VSP, also known as cross-well tomography). In the case of an offshore (subsea) reservoir, the source is commonly an air gun placed in the water at or near the surface of the water. If sources are activated in a borehole and the sensing device is located at the surface the configuration is known as Reverse VSP. In the following invention the meaning of sources and receivers can be interchanged without changing the method itself and is thus applicable to VSP as well as Reverse VSP.

The receiver or receivers in the borehole receive seismic energy produced by the source. The seismic energy arrives at the source both as upgoing waves and as downgoing waves. The receiver converts the detected energy into signals which are then transmitted to a data collection location. The signals are typically converted from analog signals to digital signals. The set of digital signals form a VSP data set representative of a region of the formation. This unprocessed VSP data can then be processed using known processing techniques to produce a model of the region, which can be stored on computer readable medium as VSP image data. The VSP image data can be used to generate visual images of the region, and can also be used for computer simulations and the like. Frequently VSP data is augmented with data from a surface seismic survey to produce a higher quality image of a portion of the formation. The seismic image is generated as a result of interaction (reflections, diffractions, conversion, mostly) between the seismic energy from the source and events and structures within the subterranean formation, as well as traveltime of the signals from the source to the receiver (directly or indirectly). An example of a subterranean structure is a geological feature such as a dip, a fold, or a transition from one rock type to another (e.g., from sandstone to granite). A subterranean event can include not only geological features, but also a change in physical properties (e.g., density, porosity, etc.) within the same rock strata. Traveltime is also affected by changes in physical properties within the formation, typically as a function of depth.

Generally, traveltime is the time lapse between the generation of a seismic signal and the time at which a seismic receiver receives the signal. As can be appreciated, the density of a geologic formation through which a seismic signal travels has a significant impact on traveltime. A seismic signal will travel faster through a dense formation that it will through a less dense formation. It is therefore very desirable to know the density of a formation through which a seismic signal will travel in order that received signals can accurately indicate the total distance traveled by the signal prior to being received at a receiver. That is, since the essential objective of reflection seismology is to determine the location (depth) of events in a target area, it is important to have a reasonable approximation or model of the velocities of the different strata involved in the seismic survey. Complicating this process of developing the velocity model is the fact that a geologic formation through which a seismic single may travel (prior to being received at a receiver) is often not a single layer of a homogeneous material. Rather, the geologic formation typically consists of multiple layers each having different physical properties (typically density) which affect the rate at which a seismic signal propagates through the different layers.

In the case of vertical seismic profiling, it is somewhat relatively straight-forward to determine the velocities of different geologic layers within the zone of the receiver array. Referring to FIG. 1, a cross section of a subterranean formation 10 is depicted in a side profile view. The subterranean formation 10 is separated into two regions - an upper region 20 in which a receiver array 14 is placed within a wellbore 12, and a lower region or target area 30 in which no receivers are located. The upper region 20 is bounded at the lower level by the lowest geophone level 46. The target area 30 in general represents an area of interest where more information is desired, typically to identify the potential location of hydrocarbon deposits for exploitation. For practical reasons (typically economic—i.e., the cost of drilling, etc.), the wellbore 12 is not extended into the target area 30, and thus the receiver array 14 is deployed within the upper region 20. Within this upper region 20, it is relatively easy to determine the velocities of different layers within this region. Specifically, a zero-offset checkshot seismic source 18 can be provided at or very near the well head 16 of the wellbore 12. The velocity v, in meters per second (or other designated units) can be determined from the equation v_(i)≈dl/dτ_(i), where dl is the distance between two adjacent receivers 22 in question, and dT is the time difference from reception of the source signal at receiver “i−1” to when the receiver “i” receives the signal. Since the distance “dl” between any given receiver “i−1 and receiver “i” are known, it is possible to determine with some accuracy the various velocities within the upper region 20. (Of course, the closer the geophones 22 are to one another, the better will be the resolution of the velocities of the layers within the upper region 20.)

In addition to performing a zero-offset survey of the upper region 20 (by providing a source 18 located proximate the wellhead 16 of the wellbore 12), additional velocity information pertaining to both the upper region 20 and the target area 30 can be obtained by performing offset-tomography. In this case, a seismic source 40 is used to generate a seismic signal at a distance “X” from the wellbore 12. Again, since the distances between the source 40 and each of the receivers 22 is known, determining velocities in the upper region 20 is relatively straight forward and somewhat accurate.

However, determining (or approximating) velocities in the target area 30 is somewhat more problematic, since the receiver array 14 does not extend into this area. Reflection tomography from events (e.g., 44) in the target area will provide signal information to the receiver array 14 indicating the presence of an event in this area, but due to unknowns regarding the velocities and reflector locations in the target area, it is difficult to determine accurately the depth of the event reflection point 42.

The velocity information received from zero-offset VSP and offset tomography can be supplemented with information from a sonic log of the wellbore 12 if such is available, but such information may be difficult to incorporate since sonic logs are collected at a much higher seismic frequency range than VSP seismic data, and seismic velocity can vary with frequency thus causing a comparison of the higher frequency sonic data to VSP data to be indirect Zero-offset VSP and offset tomography velocity information can also be supplemented with surface seismic velocity analysis information if it is available, but such information lacks the resolution of a VSP survey, and thus does not provide the accuracy desired for VSP surveys.

There is therefore a need for a method to improve velocity models used in VSP surveys and data processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting a vertical cross section of a subterranean formation and prior art VSP data collection methods.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a flowchart depicting a method in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a side elevation view of the subterranean reservoir of FIG. 1 depicting a datuming process in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a side elevation view of the subterranean reservoir of FIG. 1 depicting a process for obtaining interferometric common depth point data in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a side elevation view of the subterranean reservoir of FIG. 1 depicting a process for obtaining interferometric common midpoint data in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an image of a side elevation view of the subterranean reservoir of FIG. 1 depicting synthetic data and the synthetic data modified using the method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 image of a side elevation view of the subterranean reservoir of FIG. 1 depicting synthetic data representative of a common reflector imaged at three different locations along a common datum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The methods described herein allow an improved velocity model to be developed for VSP surveys and VSP data imaging.

The methods described herein can be performed using computers and data processors. The data described herein can be stored on computer-readable media. Furthermore, the methods described herein can be reduced to a set of computer readable instructions capable of being executed by a computer processor, and which can be stored on computer readable media.

Preferably, when performing the method of the present invention, a reasonably accurate velocity model of the upper region (20, FIG. 1) of the subterranean formation is to be provided. As indicated above, since the upper region by definition contains a wellbore 12, a reasonably accurate velocity model of this region can be achieved by using a receiver array 14 with relatively close receiver spacing, and/or by placing the receiver array 14 at different locations in the upper region 20. Further, it is preferable to have sonic log data and/or a velocity model from surface seismic data for the target area (30, FIG. 1) when performing the method in order to provide an improved initial estimation of velocities in the area.

In the following description, anisotropy and other complications will be ignored for the sake of simplicity. However, it is understood that the development of a complete velocity model for the target area will include these considerations.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a flowchart 200 depicts steps that can be performed to accomplish the method of the present invention. The steps depicted in the flowchart 200 can be performed on one or more computers as computer executable program steps. It will be appreciated that the flowchart 200 is exemplary only, and that not all steps depicted are necessary to carry out the method. Further, certain steps depicted can be performed in different order, and additional steps can be added, all within the scope of the overall method.

In step 202, a velocity model of the upper region (20, FIG. 1) is obtained or provided. This can be achieved as per the discussion regarding FIG. 1 provided above. Inherently, this step also includes providing a VSP data set performed using the arrangement of FIG. 1. The VSP data set includes both downgoing wave data (i.e., seismic energy directly from the source 40 to the geophones 22), as well as upgoing wave data (i.e., reflection or diffraction seismic energy from a layer 44 below a geophone). Further, the VSP data includes both shear wave (S-wave) data, as well as compression wave (P-wave) data.

In step 204, the reflection data (upgoing wavefield) from the VSP data is separated into data containing a single wave type (P-wave, S-waves). This is done since the shear waves and the compression waves travel at different velocities in the same media. However, either one wave type or both wave types simultaneously can be used in the subsequent steps to improve the velocity model.

In step 206 the surface source side of the reflection wavefield (derived from step 204) is backward continued to the bottom geophone level 46 (see FIG. 3) in a common-geophone gather domain. This, coupled with step 208 and 210 (wherein ray tracing is performed from the geophones 22 to the bottom geophone datum level 46, and the interferometric stationary phase is computed) essentially constitutes a downward continuation using wavefield equations (known as wave equation extrapolation and migration, or WEM) from their known state using sources 40 at the surface 48 to a predicted state at the lower geophone level 46. This process is also known as datuming. Datuming has the effect of removing the upper layer 20 from the wavefield, and thus providing a set of wavefields which would result if the VSP survey was performed starting at the lower geophone level. Datuming is a known process for surface seismic data, but heretofore has not been applied to VSP seismic data. The process results in computing an extrapolated wavefield. After the first surface source side extrapolation (at the uppermost geophone 52), the datum can be moved down to the level of that geophone, which is then used as the starting point for the next surface source extrapolation. This process is continued until the datum for the source side of the VSP wave field has been moved step-by-step from the upper surface 48 to the lower geophone level 46, after which the wave field corresponding to the borehole receivers is interferometrically redatumed from the individual borehole geophone level 22 to the lower geophone datum level 46.

More specifically, and referring to FIG. 3, the backward continuation downward of step 206 is performed for all surface source locations on level 48 simultaneously for each geophone 22 in the borehole independently, starting with the uppermost geophone 52 in the array 14, and ending with the lowest most geophone 54. Subsequently, for each geophone 22, it is assumed that the geophone is a seismic source, i.e., a hypothetical source 102, 106 (for example) based on reciprocity of the wave equation. Further, for each downward continuation, there is assumed to be a geophone located at the lower geophone level 46, that is, virtual geophones 104. Using known information from the VSP survey in the upper region 20, reflection points 111, 113 (and so on, for each virtual source at the geophones 22), the arrival points 115, 117 (and so on) at the surface 48 can be predicted. This produces a synthetic wave for each hypothetical source 102, 106. The virtual waves include a downgoing portion 108, as well as an upgoing portion 110. The upgoing portion 110 of the synthetic waves 116 include an upper segment 112 which is above the lower geophone level, and a lower segment 114 in the target area 30. It will be noted that the synthetic waves 116 do not merely consist of a continuously straight upgoing portion 112 which is reflected at the depth points (111, 113, etc.) at an equal and opposite angle to the downgoing portion 108. Rather, in the example depicted the upgoing portion 110 is calculated as being reflected from the depth points at a slightly less angle than the downgoing portion. Further, the upper segment 112 and the lower segment 114 of the upgoing wave are offset by a refraction angle at the lower geophone level 46. These differences from pure geometric reflection of the synthetic waves 116 off of the depth points 111, 113 are a result of at velocity model estimations used in the modeling of the synthetic waves 116.

The specific predictive modeling steps that can be used for this process of the wave equation extrapolation and datuming in steps 206, 208 and 210 include selecting a hypothetical source location at a location where the downward continued wave field has been created as end result of step 206. Specifically as illustrated in FIG. 4, the newly chosen source location 126 is located on the bottom geophone datum level 46. At this virtual source location new common shot gathers are synthesized from partially redatumed data by time shifting and stacking selected seismic traces. The required time shifts (for example, segments 132 and 108) are computed using the previously estimated velocity model comprising the region from surface level 48 down to the bottom geophone level 46. The time shifts are obtained by ray tracing from the new source point 126 to all borehole locations 52 through 54. In this manner a seismic event originating from reflector 123 or 113 can be composed by considering segments 116, 110 and 108. An unknown number of reflection events is present in the redatumed data, illustrated by an event determined by segment 116,128 and 132.

Following the surface source-side downward continuation step 206, the resulting seismic data with reciprocal sources 102 located at the borehole 12 are denoted as the modified wave field DCSG (s_(i), g_(j), t). Then in step 210 interferometric common shot gather and interferometric common midpoint (CMP) data are obtained.

A specific example of obtaining interferometric common shot gather data is depicted in FIG. 4, which is an extension of FIG. 3. In general, the process of obtaining interferometric shot gather data achieves common depth point (CDP) gather data on the datum line 46 by standard resorting of shot gathers into CDP gathers (i.e., eventually, the lower geophone level 46). This CDP data can then be used to improve the velocity model for the target area, as will be more fully described below. As can be seen visually, the process entails locating virtual sources 112,126 (and so on for the different geophones 22) where the downgoing portion of synthetic waves 116 and 132 intersect one another at the datum line (here, the lower geophone level 46). To generate the modified wave fields time shifts are computed from the hypothetical source location to their original locations 102 and 106 within the receiver array 52 to 54 in the borehole 12. Each original location such as at 102 and 106 and for each datumed location 104 a seismic trace exists in the wave field. The locations 104 are typically located on a horizontal grid or at specific subsurface locations. To create a new modified wave field that represents a hypothetical source at reference location 126, (denoted g₁ in the formula below), all seismic traces associated with the original locations are selected, and the previously computed associated time shifts are applied to those selected traces. Summation over the time shifted traces creates a new wave field ICSG(g₁, g₂, t)=Σs_(i) DCSG(s_(i), g₂, t+tau_(si, g1)). In this manner the stationary phases of individual reflection responses from a reflector 113 and 123 are summed into a common wave field. This process is not an imaging but data transformation process whose result is an interferometrically computed Common Shot Gather at the reference location 126. Each such common shot gather contains wave field contributions from the datum line 46. The process is repeated for each newly created virtual source on the datum level 46.

A specific example of obtaining interferometric common midpoint (CMP) data set is depicted in FIG. 5, which is an extension of FIG. 4. As can be seen visually, the process entails locating hypothetical sources 142 and 146 on the datum line (lower geophone level 46) midpoint between the respective virtual sources 122 and 126 (generated in the process of obtaining the interferometric common shot gather data in FIG. 4). A new synthetic wave 138 (comprising downgoing portion 154 and upgoing portion 152) is generated using the new hypothetical sources 142 and 146. This is done for each hypothetical source created in the interferometric shot gather data process. The result is a virtual surface seismic survey along the datum line 46 using hypothetical sources 122, 126, 142, 146 and so on for all of the hypothetical sources created. As is apparent, the more hypothetical sources there are on the datum line 46, the better will be the predictive nature of the velocity model for the target area 30. It will also be observed that synthetic waves 138 illuminate the depth points 111 and 113 from the original VSP survey.

With reference now to FIG. 6, an image of a side elevation view of the subterranean reservoir 10 of FIG. 1 is depicted showing synthetic data (210) and the synthetic data modified (220) using the method of the present invention. Here the reflection response of the original VSP data (210) and the interferometrically computed data (220). The left panel (210) depicts the original VSP data with the direct arrival 212, first reflection 214 from 111 (FIG. 3) and second reflection 216 from 113 (also FIG. 3). After performing the interferometric redatuming process (220) no direct arrival (212), and only the first reflection 214 (now seen as 224) and second reflection 216 (now seen as 226) are maintained. The time moveout of the first and second reflection (from 214 to 224, and from 216 to 226, respectively) has changed to accommodate the new virtual source and receiver locations on the datum line 46 in FIG. 5. In addition, the amplitude distribution is changed (as indicated by the darker nature of lines 224 and 226 over respective traces 214 and 216) due to the modification of the original wave field.

Turning now to FIG. 7, the figure depicts three interferometrically computed CMP gathers (240, 250, 260) on the datum line 46 (FIGS. 3 and 4), each one at a different location or offset from the wellbore 12 (e.g., at location 142 of FIG. 5 for gather 250, location 146 for gather 260, and at a point beyond location 142 for gather 240). For a horizontal and dipping reflector (e.g., 241, 251, 261, representing the same reflector) there is a seismic reflection response, which in response to the particular VSP wave field illumination has a certain slope, curvature, shape and amplitude distribution (as evidenced in each of the three panels of FIG. 7). These reflection and diffraction response characteristics from each of the three locations are analyzed in the step 212 (FIG. 2) to improve the velocity model in the vicinity of the target area 30 (FIG. 5).

Following step 210 in FIG. 2, in step 212 the interferometric CMP data from step 210 are used to derive an improved velocity model for the target area 30 of FIG. 1. Standard surface seismic velocity analysis using semblance is not immediately applicable to the interferometric CMP gathers, because the non-stationary stacking energy is left as artifacts in the interferometric CMP gathers. However, these stationary stacking have stronger energy and can mimic the actual surface seismic data. Hence, an interactive software tool can be used to pick a velocity to match the stationary stacked (strong energy) events in the interferometric CMP gathers (e.g., FIG. 7). Using the Dix's equations, the picked velocities in the time domain can be transformed into interval velocities in the depth domain.

In step 214, now that the wavefield equations from the original VSP survey have been datumed to the top of the target area (level 46), and an improved velocity model obtained, the wavefield equations can once again be migrated into the target area using the techniques described above for datuming. This step can be described as redatuming, or wavefield migration of the target area 214. In this instance, the redatuming generally follows the datuming and migration process for surface seismic surveys.

In step 216, the results from the original VSP survey can be processed using known seismic data processing methods (e.g., stacking, migration (including Kirchhoff migration, or KM), etc.) using the velocity model resulting from steps 204-212. Improved images can thus be obtained from the modified data and from the improved velocity model in the target area below target level 46 (FIG. 5). Additional velocity improvements can be obtained by analyzing angle domain or offset domain migrated common image gathers. Upon updating the target velocity model again, improved images of the target area can be obtained. This process can continue several times until a certain desired image quality criteria is obtained or the image quality does not change any longer.

While the above invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features, it is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims as appropriately interpreted. 

1. A method comprising: providing a first velocity model derived from a vertical seismic profiling (VSP) survey in an upper region of a subterranean formation defined by the upper region and a target area below the upper region, the upper region containing a wellbore in which a receiver array is placed to obtain vertical seismic data (VSP data) representative of the upper region; progressively migrating wave fields representative of the VSP data to a datum line defining a boundary between the upper region and the target area using first virtual sources located at a plurality of geophone positions on the receiver array, to thereby obtain wavefields simulating VSP wavefield data obtained at the datum line; developing interferometric common shot gather data simulating VSP data obtained by the first virtual sources, second virtual sources located at the datum line, and virtual receivers located at the datum line; developing interferometric common midpoint (CMP) data simulating surface seismic data obtained at the datum line by the second virtual sources and third virtual sources located on the datum line between the second virtual and the wellbore, and virtual receivers located at the datum line; modifying the first velocity using the migrated wavefields and the interferometric CMP data, to obtain a second velocity representative of velocities of the subterranean formation within the target area; and saving the second velocity model to a computer readable medium;
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein and further comprising iteratively improving the velocity using the interferometric CMP data, computing migrated wave field images and assessing image quality and velocity representative of velocities of the subterranean formation within the target area and saving each iteration and final velocity model to a computer readable medium.
 3. The method of claim 1, and wherein the steps are performed on one or more computers.
 4. A computer readable medium comprising a set of computer executable instructions to implement the method of claim
 1. 5. A computer readable medium comprising a data set generated using the method of claim
 1. 